Four contestants stated flatly that they did not believe in evolution (Alabama, Arkansas, North Carolina and Tennessee) and three (Alabama, Indiana and Kentucky) do not think evolution should be taught in schools. Most (23) said that evolution should be taught alongside other views, with the most mentioned “other” being creationism. By voicing this preference, contestants seemingly fail to understand the difference between science and philosophy, just like most Americans (and former President Bush). However, their answers reflect mainstream America:

[P]olling finds that a solid majority of Americans over the past 20 years has supported the teaching of both evolution and creationist accounts of the origins of life. A June 1999 Gallup/CNN/USA Today poll found that 68% of the public favored teaching creationism along with evolution in public schools. A more recent Pew Research poll conducted in July 2006 found that a 58% majority held that view.

Approximately 40%-50% of the public accepts a biblical creationist account of the origins of life, while comparable or slightly larger numbers accept the idea that humans evolved over time. The wording of survey questions generally makes little systematic difference in this division of opinion, and there has been little change in the percentage of the public who reject the idea of evolution….

In an August 2005 Gallup poll, 58% of the public said that creationism was definitely or probably true as an explanation for the origin and development of life, but about the same number also said the same about evolution. Since creationism and evolution are incompatible as explanations, some portion of the public is clearly confused about the meaning of the terms.

A 1999 Fox News poll of registered voters offered respondents the explicit option to say that both Darwin’s theory of evolution and the biblical account of creation were true: 26% said both were.

Another example: in 2002 in my native Georgia, the Cobb County School Board decided that science textbooks containing information on evolution needed a warning label.

This textbook contains material on evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of living things. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered.

A judge overturned that decision, which resulted from complaints from 2,000 parents that “the textbooks presented evolution as fact, without mentioning rival ideas about the beginnings of life, such as the biblical story of creation.”

Miss Alabama : “No, I do not believe in evolution, and I do not believe it should be taught in schools.”

Miss Alaska : “I think it’s necessary that evolution is taught in schools … it’s part of our history and belief system … personally, I don’t believe in evolution, I believe that each one of us was created for a purpose by God …”

Miss Arizona : “I think it’s good to provide our students with both sides of the story [evolution, creationism] … [it] is the best choice.”

Miss Arkansas : “… I was never taught evolution in school … every school is different … to each his own…”

Miss California : “I was taught evolution in my high school … I do believe in it …”

Miss Colorado : “… it’s important to let students just decide … they should teach evolution and other concepts as well.”

Miss Missouri : “That is such a tough one… if it were to be taught in schools, that would give kids a chance to decide what they want to believe …”

Miss Montana : “… [evolution should] be presented as an option … both sides should be presented …”

Miss Nebraska : “… in public schools, you have to give all credited theories equal amount of time, so I think creation and evolution should both be able to be taught.”

Miss Nevada : “… evolution definitely should be taught in schools … everything evolves, we evolve as communities … evolution can be taught in many different ways, it doesn’t necessarily have to be about people…”

Miss New Hampshire : “…evolution is one of those things that needs to be incorporated but it shouldn’t be the only point of view taught.”

Miss New Jersey : “I think everything should be taught in schools … they should have the option of learning everything that there is to learn and then kinda choose what they like to believe.”

Miss New Mexico : “… evolution should be taught in schools because evolution is based off of science…”

Miss New York : “… evolution should be taught in schools and religion should be taught in schools … knowledge is power …”

Miss North Carolina : “I think it’s great to get both sides of the story … I believe the Bible’s version …”

Miss North Dakota : “Sure. Why not? … I think it’s good that people hear both sides of, I guess, the story, so to speak.”

Miss Ohio : “… why not?… you don’t necessarily have to agree with it, but I’m not opposed to it.”

Miss Oklahoma : “… should be taught in schools … every version of everything so that they can form their own opinions.”

Miss Oregon : “… every theory of how we came to be here should get a shout-out … evolution definitely should be presented … but it shouldn’t be the only one.”

Miss Pennsylvania : “… evolution should absolutely be taught in schools … we should explore all philosophies … other theories should be taught as well… so children … can decide on their own what they think is the truth.”

Miss Rhode Island : “… should be taught … kids need to know all different perspectives on how the world came to be.”

Miss South Carolina : “I think … everyone needs to know how we were made and why we were here. If parents are fine with it, I think it’s okay.”

Miss South Dakota : “I think evolution is part of basic science and it should be taught but I also don’t think that teachers or anyone should step on the toes of biblical values either.”

Miss Tennessee : “I do think evolution should be taught in schools, personally that is not my belief…”

Miss Texas : “I wouldn’t see why evolution couldn’t be taught in schools … I think it would be interesting to learn about.”

Miss Utah : “It’s tough because everybody has their different beliefs… I would say yes … but it’s tough, either way, somebody is going to be offended.”

Miss Vermont : “… evolution should be taught in schools because not everybody necessarily has the same religious background and it’s important to have scientific facts about the world. And we do know that evolution does exist … might as well learn about it.”

Miss Virginia : “…little bits and pieces of evolution should be taught … because it is a theory, and after all we all need to know about different theories so that we can figure out what we want to believe is true.”

Miss Washington : “…science is great … facts should be stated … but as far as little theories and what not, I probably want to stay away from those … facts not theories should be taught.”

Miss West Virginia : “… evolution should be taught in schools but I also don’t think that religion should be taken out. If you don’t believe in evolution that’s fine, but you should be informed about it. If you don’t believe in religon that’s fine, but you should be informed about it. I believe that they should incorporate both.”

Miss Wisconsin : “… evolution should be taught in schools only because it’s a great subject to touch base on”

Note: The two articles that tipped me to this story have incorrect headlines/information. Think Progress says two contestants “believe in evolution” — that’s not supported by the video clips. USA Today (the primary source for Think Progress) is incorrect on several points.

This is very disappointing. The reason is because the current youth cohort typically shows where the country is headed. For example, youth under 25 are much more tolerant around things like gay marriage and gay rights. Recent Gallup polls also show more of a youth oriented trend away from the traditional church on Sunday conservative religious perspective that dominated the last century. Unfortunately, this does not seem to have translated into understanding the importance of evolution.

My only concern would be overgeneralizing this sample. I wonder how beauty pageant contestants stack up against other kids of the same age. It would seem pageant contestants are more conservative and traditional.

Thanks for commenting … however, I am not using the pageant results to make a statement on culture OTHER THAN it reflects what polling data have shown for YEARS … Americans reject evolution and cling to religious myth as an explanation for “creation.”

CRW – I don’t see how you can overgeneralize from this sample, however, there is a greater percentage who seem to believe that evolution should be taught without being linked to creationism than there is in the general population. And there are fewer who think it should not be taught at all. Both of those are GOOD things.

DLS

Well, at least Kathy’s overreaction and over-writing about evolution and the beauty pageant is nothing compared to the leftist gusher of hatred and inanity when Carrie Prejean made a routine remark that many express about gay marriage.

(Don’t even start a re-run on the hatred and insanity. It’s irrelevant how many in the minority feel about this subject, and how the minority is admitting more of the majority every day and likely will become the majority someday. Prejean’s remark was ordinary and the real story became the leftist lunatic and vicious response to it.)

Why would what one 21 year girl thinks even be a topic of serious discussion?

rudi

While not Rhodes Scholars, all pageant contestants are college graduates. If this small trivial sample is our best and brightest, were in big trouble…

CRW

I have daughters around the same age as these contestants. One has graduated and is getting ready for grad school, and the other two are starting their sophomore and senior years respectively. All three are science majors and laugh when people say evolution should not be taught in school. All three took the same biology course with a textbook titled, “Evolutionary Biology.”

The fact that only one of the contestants gave unequivocal support for scientific knowledge that conflicts with religion is disturbing.

I know the trends are headed in the “right” direction. However, we are so far behind our peer countries, I wonder what it means for our future.

DavidMtem

Quite overblown title don’ you think? Rejection by pageant participants is the measure of America. Gee if you asked them about Gravity we might be able to repeal that Law.

I’ll have to check out Nate Silver at FiveThirty Eight to get his take.

@DLS — this began as a rebuttal of the USA Today story, which was more overblown in the headline/lede AND which is incorrect.

@GALawyer — because she’s going to have kids and shape how they think?

@rudi — please please look at the national data. I should rewrite this with a different frame: these young women MIRROR general attitudes of American adults, but they are slightly more “liberal” (a smaller percentage think evolution should be co-taught with creationism than the general population)

@CRW — I agree that it’s disturbing, but there is ever-so-slight movement towards enlightenment (which I’m defining as understanding the difference in science and religion/myth)

roro80

Ah, such stunningly gorgeous, brainwashed young women. Did you see them in their bikinis? If I looked like that in a bathing suit, maybe I wouldn’t need to know whether the Earth was flat or not either. On the other hand, science and a regular schedule of caloric intake are two of my very favorite things, so maybe the incredible bikini bod wouldn’t be worth it…